cami-knickers
Definition
Noun (plural in form, used with a plural or singular verb):
A one-piece undergarment for women that combines a camisole (a short, sleeveless top) with knickers (women's underpants), typically made of soft, stretchy fabric like cotton or silk.
Usage Examples
- (A combined top and bottom undergarment for comfort.)
- (A historical or retro style of women's underwear.)
- (A practical use as a night garment.)
Advanced Usage
- "a pair of cami-knickers": The standard way to refer to the garment; "cami-knickers" is treated as a plural noun, but you can say "a pair of cami-knickers" for a single item.
- She wore a pair of cami-knickers under her dress. (A single garment combining top and bottom.)
- "vintage cami-knickers": Often associated with 1920s–1950s fashion, when such garments were common as daywear or lingerie.
- The museum exhibit displayed silk cami-knickers from the 1930s. (Historical undergarments.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cami-knicker (singular, less common): Used to refer to one such garment.
- The cami-knicker has a built-in shelf bra. (A single instance of the garment.)
- Camiknickers (alternative spelling): A variant spelling without the hyphen.
- She prefers camiknickers to separate tops and bottoms. (Same meaning, different spelling.)
Synonyms
- Teddy: A one-piece undergarment for women, similar but often more fitted and with a snap crotch.
- A teddy is a close cousin to cami-knickers. (Related garment.)
- Bodysuit: A close-fitting one-piece garment, but typically worn as outerwear or shapewear, not necessarily as underwear.
- A bodysuit differs from cami-knickers in that it is often worn as a top. (Distinct garment type.)
Related Idioms
- No direct idioms: "Cami-knickers" is a specific garment term and does not appear in common idiomatic expressions. However, it may appear in fashion contexts like "slip into something comfortable," referring to such garments.
Usage Notes
- Historical context: Cami-knickers were especially popular in the early to mid-20th century as practical undergarments for women, often worn under dresses or as sleepwear. They are less common today but still available as vintage-style or loungewear items.
- Grammatical note: The word is always used in plural form, similar to "trousers" or "pants." To specify one item, use "a pair of cami-knickers."